Although significant vaccine-related advancements have been made in the United States, adult vaccination rates still remain low overall, especially among racial and ethnic minority populations, who have been shown to be less likely to be vaccinated against certain diseases than their non-minority counterparts. Many factors contribute to lower vaccination rates, including employment, housing, education, and transportation, among other social determinants of health. Additionally, concerns about vaccinations, including vaccine safety, have contributed to recent declines. Therefore, it is crucial that health professionals share and learn about the importance of immunizations.
National Immunization Awareness Month
August is National Immunization Awareness Month (NIAM). This annual observance highlights the efforts of healthcare professionals to protect patients of all ages against vaccine-preventable diseases through on-time vaccination. Encourage your patients to schedule appointments to ensure they are up to date on annual exams and recommended vaccines. Research has consistently shown that healthcare professionals are the most trusted source of vaccine information for parents and patients.
Access CDC educational resources like the #HowIRecommend Video Series, which offers simple and practical guidance for having successful vaccine conversations with parents and patients. These short videos demonstrate how to make effective vaccine recommendations, address common vaccine questions and take a team-based approach to vaccination.
Also, check out the Adult Vaccine Assessment Tool for information on vaccine recommendations based on age, health conditions, job and other factors
Additional Resources:
- The Immunization and Vaccine Resources webpage offers resources for health care providers, partners and patients.
- Download the Annual Influenza Vaccination Disparities in Medicare Beneficiaries data snapshot, which provides information on the importance of flu vaccines as well as vaccine disparities among Medicare fee-for-service populations.
- View the Coverage to Care (C2C) Preventive Services webpage for newly updated flyers that offer information on covered immunizations.
- Visit the CDC Adult Immunization Schedule by Vaccine and Age Group webpage and Child and Adolescent Immunization Schedule webpage to find out more about recommended vaccines based on age group
- Download U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Catch-Up to Get Ahead Toolkit, which provides partner resources and graphics to help patients catch up on any missed vaccine appointments due to the COVID-19 public health emergency.
- Access the 2022 National Immunization Awareness Toolkits:
Great Plains QIN is working to increase COVID-19, influenza and pneumococcal vaccination rates in the Dakotas. We believe if we work together to coordinate messages, share resources and offer joint learning opportunities, we can collectively combat vaccine hesitancy and increase vaccine confidence. We value our partnership and want to work together to reduce duplication and decrease provider burden, If your organization is currently planning trainings or have projects underway that we could support or promote, please let us know. Visit our Vaccinations pages to learn more.